The Wolverines beat Cleveland State in their opener on Saturday. It was the first-ever MLax game for Cleveland State, which has a roster consisting entirely of freshmen (including a kid from Easton, who scored in the opener).

Michigan's top scoring threat is #15, a 6-4/215 attack from Canada by way of Old Avon Farms. He's he's a Jason Sands-type player who will be tough to defend up close due to his size.

Michigan doesn't seem to be hosting any live video. It will be Gametracker only.

I just re-watched Freshman FOGO John Becker's high school highlights after reading his bio and letting it sink in. Not only was Becker first team all state for Mountain Lakes, he played two years of football and he wrestled for two years. With all that on his plate, naturally Becker was a four year honor roll student at one of New Jersey's toughest high schools.

I've posted before how the Pards need a wrestler at FOGO. Now we got one. I don't know how I missed this earlier. Watch Becker's Hudl video-

Look at how low he gets for his clamp, then the pop he gets coming out. Lots of kids lately have taken to a high stance because they think it gives them more leverage. Not Becker. He looks like a wrestler with the flexibility, upper leg strength and balance that goes along with it.

Sophomore Michael Sullivan of course is the best FOGO the Pards have had since Cesar Munoz. But now Sullivan has Becker to square off against in practice, which is fantastic and will make both of them better. I can't emphasize this enough.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Becker in a live game. I'm guessing we'll see that right away as he'll probably come in for a change of pace from Sullivan a couple of times.

EDIT - A cautionary note about Becker's technique. In the Hudl videos, you can see that Becker often emerges from the scrum carrying the ball on the back of his stick. He then flips the ball up while on the move and catches in the pocket. This is known as the "pinch and pop" technique.

The "pinch and pop" no longer is allowed by NCAA rules. You can still clamp the ball with the back of the stick, but you have to sweep it out of the scrum. If you carry the ball out of the scrum, the ball must be cradled in the pocket, not on the back of the stick. The rule change was made because the (relatively few) kids who had mastered the slick move (like Becker) had too much advantage.

I have no idea how much this will impact Becker's efficacy but from the looks of him, I think he'll adapt.

Last edited by Bogus Megapardus on Sat Feb 11, 2017 2:58 pm; edited 4 times in total

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 2:28 pm

Bogus Megapardus

Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 5880

Location: The Psphere of Pardsvillian Punditry

Also - how often do Pardsvillians get to say, "Beat Michigan?"

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 4:30 pm

Bogus Megapardus

Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 5880

Location: The Psphere of Pardsvillian Punditry

6-1 Michigan. Ouch. Eric Joseph has the lone goal for the Pards. Sullivan 4/8. Anastos in the net.

Last edited by Bogus Megapardus on Sat Feb 11, 2017 5:06 pm; edited 1 time in total

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 4:38 pm

Bogus Megapardus

Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 5880

Location: The Psphere of Pardsvillian Punditry

McAvoy scores on man-up. 6-2 Michigan.

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 4:51 pm

Bogus Megapardus

Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 5880

Location: The Psphere of Pardsvillian Punditry

7-3 Michigan. I keep hoping, but . . .

Last edited by Bogus Megapardus on Sat Feb 11, 2017 5:07 pm; edited 1 time in total

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 4:54 pm

Bogus Megapardus

Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 5880

Location: The Psphere of Pardsvillian Punditry

11-4 Michigan. It's a rout at the half.

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 6:14 pm

Bogus Megapardus

Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 5880

Location: The Psphere of Pardsvillian Punditry

Well, that didn't work out so well, did it? Final, Michigan 17, Lafayette 6.

Also - how often do Pardsvillians get to say, "Beat Michigan?" :shock:

Perhaps not in 118 years. The baseball team beat Michigan in 1892 but lost in 1899.
The rubber game needs to be played!

Now there's a stat. How did you come up with that, bethlehempard? I wouldn't know where to begin to look!

Well it all started with a mistake. I thought Lafayette played UM in the College World Series. Actually that was Western Michigan in 1958.
So I looked it up and found that 19th century split. I'm surprised there hasn't been a spring trip matchup.
Maybe we've played them in something else but I'm pretty sure we have not in FB or BB.

FH tie in 1981. Perhaps other stray results?
Anyway it's been a long time.

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2017 12:16 am

Bogus Megapardus

Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 5880

Location: The Psphere of Pardsvillian Punditry

Given the look of things, I'm hoping there's not something really terribly wrong going on here. Every other team in the Patriot League can play with anybody in the top 20. But we lose to the Big 10 bottom-feeder. I did not see this afternoon's game so it's unfair to comment further. I'm really disappointed, that's all. No doubt the players are as well.

Wagner College is up next, on Friday. At least for now, the game is on the NEC Front Row schedule so we should be able to watch it. If Wagner ends up being a similarly uncompetitive game, somebody on the Hill ought to offer an explanation.